Questions about gender issues

wiselike profile-audreyt
#1

Hi Audrey,
I have a few questions about your cross-gender orientation and gender issues in Taïwan.

  • Does it mean something special for you, to be the first transgender minister in the world ?- I read that you define yourself (on gender issues) as “post-gender” (post-genre), what do you mean by that ? - In a recent interview, you said it’s not just about becoming a girl but to be both a boy and a girl. Is this how you would you summarize your cross-gender orientation ? - How did you live your transition ? Did you make any surgeries ? - Do you understand that your appointment, as well as the election of a “gay-friendly” president, is a strong signal for the LGBT community in Taïwan ? - Do you intend, as a member of the government, to work on LGBT rights ? - In your opinion, what the taïwanese government can do to improve the situation on that matter in the country ?
    Thank you very much for your answersBaptiste
#2
  1. I understand it may signal a value of diversity, though personally I see this as normal and not something special.
  2. It means I’d like to know people by their values, not their types, classes or roles — and I’d like to be known by my values, not my types, classes or roles.
  3. I also said that just as there are many languages in the world, there’s a variety of genders; not everything can be fit into a binary framework.
  4. Normally. I did get some cosmetic surgeries.
  5. Yes.
  6. My work is on mechanisms of open government, with a core value of human rights in the digital age. LGBT-related issues has been discussed on the join.gov.tw platform — we’ve seen many petitions and discussions and public hearings around this topic.
  7. See above — keep the multistakeholder dialogues going to improve multi-directional communication.
#3

Thank you very much for your answers.
On 2 - What do you mean by someone’s “values” ? Merits, actions, beliefs ? On what standards do you define someone’s “value” ?
On 6 and 7 : So, as I understand it, working on LGBT rights means, in your case, working to improve and ease the public dialogue on these issues ?
I feel (but I may be wrong, of course) that, in general (on all kind of issues), you prefer to make people discuss and talk than to share your personal point of view, no ?
Thx again

#4
  1. I mean it in its ethical sense: The degree of importance associated by an individual. On their own standard.
    6-7. That is correct. As a facilitator, I ask everyone to share the public facts, starting with the facts I have. Then I share my feelings as well as listen to stakeholders who have feelings on this matter.
    To jump directly into interpretations — without considering facts and each others’ feelings — would be ideological, and it’s indeed something that I refrain from doing.
#5

Ok, thank you very much for your time :slight_smile: